Lord: Starting with Biological Modification

Chapter 299: Chapter 294: The Alliance in Peril

The spring rain in Light City had been falling for three straight days.

In the Drunken Bear tavern in the south of the city, a fur merchant who had just come in from outside took off his cloak, rainwater dripping from its edges to pool on the floor.

"Damn this weather," he muttered, squeezing his way to the bar. "A hot ale."

The tavern keeper slid over a clay mug and asked casually, "Coming from the south? Was the road peaceful?"

"Not peaceful at all." The fur merchant took a large gulp, his breath fogging in the air. "Rumors are flying everywhere. They say our Countess is planning to ally with some Baron from the swamps, and it’s even alarmed the Sun Clan."

His voice wasn’t loud, but the two words "Sun Clan" were like a stone dropped into a pond, and the conversations at the surrounding tables immediately died down.

A local cloth merchant at the next table leaned in, lowering his voice.

"I heard that too. They say that Baron Velin is a man of low character. He used trickery to drive away Count Philippe and Viscount Valerius, and now he’s trying to trick his way into our Countess’s trust."

"That’s not all!" The fur merchant, growing animated, lowered his voice again. "I heard from a fellow over at Wind Crow Castle that Viscount Valerius was furious. He said the kid pretended to be a clergyman, blasphemed against the gods, and should be burned at the stake according to church law! The Sun Clan has already made it clear they will absolutely not allow the bloodline of the Dawn family to be tainted by such an opportunist."

"Gods... doesn’t that mean disaster is coming for our Dawn Territory?"

"You’re telling me. Going to war with the Sea Race, and on top of that, offending our suzerain lord... Our Countess, she’s still too young..."

The murmurs of discussion spread through the tavern, mixing with the sound of the rain and carrying a palpable sense of unease.

At that very moment, in the council hall of Dawn Castle, the atmosphere was even colder than the weather outside.

The nobles sat in their respective chairs, a deliberate distance between each of them.

Some stared at the specks of mud on the tips of their boots; others studied the stone carvings on the ceiling. No one spoke.

Outside, rain tapped against the stained-glass windows.

Diana sat in the seat of honor, her back perfectly straight.

On the table before her lay the already drafted parchment treaty.

"My lords."

"Grey Marsh Territory is facing a threat from the Sea Race. Baron Velin is our friend and our neighbor across the sea from the Dawn Territory. Helping them is helping ourselves. I intend to sign this treaty."

No one responded.

After a long while, the elderly, white-haired Baron Ansel cleared his throat.

"Your Ladyship, we are not questioning your decision," he began, choosing his words carefully. "It’s just... you’ve also heard the rumors regarding the Sun Clan..."

As soon as the name was spoken, several nobles immediately sat up straighter.

"Rumors?" Diana’s voice turned cold. "What kind of rumors could make the Knights of the Dawn Territory forget their oaths?"

"They say... the Sun Clan is very displeased with your association with Baron Klein."

Another Knight spoke up directly. "My Lady, the Sun Clan is our suzerain! If they see this treaty as an offense to their family, our Dawn Territory..."

He didn’t finish, but everyone present understood.

A buzz of discussion finally erupted.

"Indeed. Offending the Sun Clan for an outsider would be most unwise."

"I’ve long thought that Klein’s origins are shady. That pearl he had, who knows if he got it from fencing stolen goods with pirates?"

"War with the Sea Race? I lost three of my squires in the last fight against the boar-men! The Sea Race are much stronger than boar-men!"

These words fell on Diana’s heart like the cold rain outside.

Just a few days ago, these were the very same people who had gathered around Velin to ask for advice on farming techniques, calling him "My Lord Baron" with every other breath.

Now, in their mouths, Velin had become a charlatan who brought only disaster.

Diana’s face flushed red with anger.

"Enough!"

She slammed her hand on the table.

"Those are lies from Philippe and Valerius! You’d believe the words of two cowards who tucked tail and ran? Have you forgotten that Baron Velin’s wisdom can increase the yield of your lands and fatten your coin purses?"

Her accusations were met with an even more profound silence.

Baron Ansel sighed, stood up, and gave Diana a deep bow.

"Your Ladyship, if I may be so bold. For matters of the fields, we are grateful to Baron Klein. But war is another matter entirely. My family has been in the Dawn Territory for two hundred years. I cannot wager the lives of my descendants on an ally with a poor reputation."

With that, he bowed again, turned, and was the first to walk out of the council hall.

His departure was like a signal.

The other nobles rose one after another, each offering their own excuse.

"Apologies, Your Ladyship, the mill on my lands needs repairs."

"My wife is unwell, I must return to see to her."

"The spring planting is upon us, I really can’t spare any men."

The excuses were varied, but their steps were uniformly resolute.

In the blink of an eye, the vassals with the most land and soldiers were nearly all gone, leaving the council hall more than half empty.

Of course, not everyone chose to leave.

A few nobles, in twos and threes, remained.

They were mostly newly-minted Knights or distant relatives with blood ties to the Dawn family. Their faces were etched with hesitation and difficulty, but ultimately, they did not move from their spots.

They looked at Diana, her face ashen in her seat of honor, wanting to say something but not knowing where to begin.

The council hall fell quiet, with only the sound of the rain outside.

Diana scanned the few who remained. They either looked down or averted their gazes; not one of them dared to meet her eyes.

She understood they had stayed out of loyalty, but that loyalty seemed so feeble at this moment.

"A bunch of cowards!"

...

In an unused greenhouse in the castle, Velin was crouching before a row of wooden shelves.

The place had once been filled with plants, but most had now withered away.

Instead of flowerpots, the shelves held a dozen or so clay dishes, each containing a soil sample from a different region of the Dawn Territory.

He was using a small silver spoon to drip liquid onto one of the samples.

As the liquid dropped, tiny bubbles frothed up on the soil’s surface.

Velin quickly jotted down on a nearby piece of parchment: "West Sector 5, limestone soil, sample is alkaline, suitable for growing..."

The greenhouse’s wooden door was opened.

Diana came in, her golden hair slightly disheveled and her cheeks flushed faintly from anger.

"Velin."

She walked up to him, and seeing him still fiddling with the soil samples made her feel even more apologetic.

"Pushing the treaty through is even harder than I expected."

"They’d rather believe the bullshit of two deserters than believe me, and they keep using the Sun Clan as a shield!"

Velin put down the silver spoon, closed his notebook of records, and only then stood up.

Diana strode before him, lifted her head, her voice firm with conviction. "I will sign that treaty. In the name of the Dawn family, I will send troops to help you!"

She bit her lip.

"As for them... I’ll personally lead my soldiers, put a sword to their necks, and force them to march with me!"

Velin watched her, listening quietly until she had vented her frustration.

"Diana, don’t worry. Coercion is useless. An army filled with resentment will only be a burden."

"Arguing is useless too. With people who only believe in what they can see and what benefits them, you need to show them something they can’t refuse."

"What kind of thing?" Diana asked, a confused look on her face.

Velin turned, his wine-red eyes gazing at her. His expression wasn’t that of an ally offering comfort, but more like a researcher planning an experiment.

"I’m going back to my territory to retrieve a gift. A gift that no landed noble will be able to refuse."

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